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[Nadia Swiftar]

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Brianha did not know how to react, she was numb with the news. Their pasts had been so entwined in many different ways, some good and some very bad. Bri had immediately upon meeting Cein felt a great connection with the woman and had become fast friends for a time. Many things changed through their friendship and at times there were harsh feelings between the two. She smirked thinking of the trouble they had been in before, and even at the worst of times for them Bri always felt a tug toward her and could never hold the past events against her. What was it about her Bri wondered lost in her thoughts while everyone paid their respects to her. She was a force to be reckoned with for sure.
Bri was so lost in her thoughts watching the past fly through her mind that she didn’t even notice others were leaving at first. She snapped out of it and frowned sad that she hadn’t also paid her respects properly. But then again just having the moment to sit and truly think of her not allowing any distraction to take away from her thoughts was for her the only way to show her respects. Bri was private with many things and Cein knew that also about her.
Cein made her mark on Bri in so many ways and Bri was happy that she had. Bri looked up at Vaen who was deep in thought as they walked and she smiled up at him without him even noticing and squeezed his hand a little tighter thankful that this was not the destination either of them had yet met. Bri could feel the presence of her great friend as the two walked away and she closed her eyes for a moment to embrace the feeling. It was a great loss that would never be forgotten.

[Max of Vesper]

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Maximillian van Pelt sat at the edge of the lake, staring blankly at the distorted reflections caused by the light breeze and the trees around the water. Under normal circumstances Max found the ripples of the water and sounds of nature to be relaxing and calming, but now, at this moment it would have felt more appropriate if the lake were frozen solid….oddly he would have felt more comfortable. On this visit Max was lost in his memories unaware of the world around him. The images in his head were as clear as if they had happened yesterday. He had never forgotten her face or her icy touch even though he had not even laid eyes on her in such a long time.

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Earlier the same day Max had been meeting with a friend who was telling him about the goings-on back in Vesper. Although he hadn’t seen his hometown in quite some time, Max welcomed word from Vesper whenever he could come by it. In most cases these semi-regular updates he received contained news of politics and conflicts, and of his family and his old Guild, but this time Max heard news that completely stunned him.

Almost as an afterthought the friend mentioned that Brianha had attended the funeral of a woman named Ceinwyn. Max threw up a hand cutting the man short and asked him to repeat what he had said, asking for clarification as to whether it was HIS Ceinwyn…..Ceinwyn ab’Arawn.

“No, you must be mistaken.” Max argued raising an eyebrow and shaking his head. But even as the words passed his lips he felt the first wave of crippling doubt hit him. A feeling of chill and dread began to creep up his spine and into his shoulders as he began to fear what he would hear next.

“Oh no”, his friend countered. “I’m fairly certain she was the one. The funeral was in Umbra. I think she was the leader there. She must have been important…I’m told even Sanctus paid respects.” the source explained.

His associate’s inability to give specifics and certainties were frustrating Max to the point of anger. With a building desire to grab the man by the front of his shirt and shake the answers out of him that he needed to hear, Max suddenly felt the need to get away from the place. The voice of another patron of the pub brought Max back to his senses, if only for some brief moments.

“Yes, it was Umbra’s leader Ceinwyn ab’Arawn who died.” the eavesdropper’s voice confirmed. “She died in childbirth.”

Max protested further to both the men, at the same time knowing what he was being told was truth, “There is no way it could be her. She’s not like us….she’s…SHE CAN’T JUST DIE!”. His voice shook the rafters of the building, then Max slumped his shoulders dropping his head. He had realized the futility of further denying what he knew inside.

“I….I need to go.” Max rose from his seat and drifted out of the pub without goodbyes. Days later when he would recall hearing the news he would be unable to remember walking across the floor, climbing up onto Tornado’s back and being carried to the lake.

####

It had been a long time since Max had last seen Ceinwyn, but she had made an indelible impact on him. After they separated Max left Vesper. His relationships with his family and friends had been damaged as a result of his relationship with Ceinwyn, and he found it easier to leave than to stay and listen to their hypocritical efforts to console him over the failed romance. He had become a loner…a sword for hire, and stayed away from his home and the memories of his time with Cein.

Prior to meeting her Max took pride in being in complete control of his emotions, but Cein was able to break down the walls he had in place. A man driven by his sense of duty, he had never considered the possibility of a woman in his life, but Ceinwyn was far different in so many ways compared to other women he had met. She was exciting, and knew how to take care of herself…not the kind of woman who needed a man to do everything for them! Even now, as the tears welled in his eyes, she was still able to cause him to lose control of his emotions much to Max’s amused frustration.

Their attraction to each other made no sense to Max then and continued to make no sense now. Although he was far from being a champion of the light, Ceinwyn represented much of what Max had fought against for most of his life. His attraction to her and the love he felt for her caused him to question his own path, and he found himself yearning at times to follow her into the darkness through which she walked. Even now, after all this time had past, he missed her still. While they were together she challenged him constantly and questioned his motivation for wanting to be with her, but Max knew he had stirred something in her as well, and that the feelings she claimed to be incapable of were there. She called him naïve for believing they could stay together, but he thought the same of her for believing they could not. As stubborn as they were about loving each other, Max knew they were completely in love.

He did not see the black heart so many others saw in Ceinwyn….he saw a heart that had the capacity for love, and now any hope he had secretly held for reconciliation was gone.

Max consoled himself by thinking they would be together again someday in the afterlife, but for now he needed to pay his respects and make tribute to the woman who changed him forever. He needed to go home.
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-Max of Vesper, Super Pally Perma NoOb.

[Molly]

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It was not often Molly walked the streets of Umbra but tonight she was there. There were many in the funeral procession through the center of town, some crying, some looking down but all respecting the Matriarch and what she had done for the people of Umbra. She saw her friend Reminisance, the wife of Smogg Azalin, (another strange relationship but that is for another story).

The peace between Luna and Umbra was a precarious at best, but, one that had held for many years. She currently hoped the peace forged under the Matriarch's leadership would remain.

There was no love lost between Molly and Ceinwyn, but Molly respected her as a worthy aversary. Molly was close friends with Ceinwyn's mother and that was the primary reason why Molly came, out of respect for her friend. When Ceinwyn was young, Molly had hoped to see her follow in her mother's footsteps but as time went on, she knew that would not happen. Molly's relationship with Ceinwyn's mother saved Molly's skin once after Ceinwyn had fully turned away from the light. At that point Ceinwyn said the debt was repaid. From that day forth they were opponents at every level. So many times Ceinwyn aided Molly's foes just because they were foes, it was almost comical. She could expect it and bank on that fact. But still she was her mother's daughter and Molly would be there for that fact alone. As she said goodbye to Ceinwyn's remains she whispered, "The promise is kept my friend."
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Grand Duchess Molly Kaldhel
Oracle of Truth
The House Gauntlet
Sanctus, Luna, Malas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXoGDbJ5nLU
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"In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman."
-Margaret Thatcher-

[gypsy_merrique]

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Since the tragic night of the births and Ceinwyn's passing, Merrique left her home only to attend to the nursing. Her days were lackluster, and she felt exceptionally lost without the Matriarch.

Naturally she swore fealty to Myrddin. To do otherwise would defile the memory of the woman Merrique adored and credited with removing her from a self destructive path in life. But the joy seemed to have left. Her children noticed the difference, their worry was apparent. Walter was at a loss as how to comfort his wife.

Then one night Alex stopped by her family's Umbran home, so great was his own concern. It remained unspoken but perfectly clear that both of them felt the same sense of being adrift. As the two shared company, a spirit appeared.

The spirit kept reaching out toward Merrique, words heard barely above a whisper speaking of chains and weakening came from the spirit of the beloved Matriarch. Two final words were uttered before the spirit departed.

Oggaroth. Thrax.

Merrique set out to find the answer to the riddle.
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. . . But the dark is very trustworthy.
It's always as dark as you thought it was.
And you don't have to work at staying there.
All you have to do is survive it.
And I've been doing that forever.
from the novel "Dark Debts" by Karen Hall

[Darrien Church]

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Adrien sat stoically at the end of a long magincian style table within the walls of Castle Blackthorn, his armor and formal royal attire gone to reveal more comfortable evening clothes. A large feast sat before him untouched, and a flagon of Yewish balanced itself precariously from atop Adrien's palm. (a habit he had developed in recent months to cope with the boredom of dinners alone)

Name by name one of his commanders read aloud those in attendance at the funeral procession and Adrien betraying no sign of emotion or question during the litany of attendees processed each bit of information as he always did, stringing it piece by piece onto the mental web that was his perception of grand design.

The commander finished speaking and knowing his master well expected surely some commentary. Adrien simply looked up, moved his tongue over his lips briefly and spoke a brief yet cryptic phrase.

"Nothing is accidental, free-will is an illusion and choice merely a facade. I do not sense the witch...she surely must be dead..."

A wave of confusion was betrayed by Adrien's face as it contorted slightly, as if he was squinting into a far off distance

"As Your Majesty says.." The Commander spoke with a snap and a short pivot before leaving The Prince to his meal. He would remark to the officers in the lower dining room of Castle Britannia across the city that the Sorcerer-Prince was alluding to ominous and mystical things again with a slight tone of gravity and a muttering about Magincians and their Utopia drug.

The younger ones knowing little of what it was to function in the direct presence of the Prince when he was not in the full throws of his public display of theatrics and bravado would release a slight chuckle...the rest either by instinct or legitimate fear clutched the discreet ankh they had all begun to wear in recent months.

[Malic M'real]

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Malic had been present from the start of the ceremony. He needed to show his respect both as Chancellor of Sanctus and from the relationship he and Ceinwyn had developed during his time as a Lawman in Sanctus. He sat and listened to the Umbrans and friends of the Matriarch speak as he remembered his long talks with Ceinwyn about Vampires, legal accords and the sort.

"A worthy foe, a devoted leader and an excellent person for an undead," he thought. "She shall be missed by the light as well as the darkness."

Malic left the Umbrans to their sorrows and returned back to his castle to join the other Sanctans. Together the Sanctans departed for Umbra to collectively pay their respects under their King's lead.
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The Light of Virtue Shines Through All Darkness
Earl Malic M'real-Skyfire
Lord Chancellor
Governor-Regent of Sanctus
Earl of Sanctus- Steward of the Sanctan Throne
Justice Paladin of the Holy Paladin Council